Hounds at Work 



apparently oblivious of the distinguishing 

 characteristics of the variety. It is quite 

 true that there are points common to all kinds 

 of hounds, if we would have them at their 

 best : legs and feet, shoulders and quarters 

 must be beyond reproach if a hound is to 

 stand a hard day's work, but surely one 

 cannot reasonably contend that a foxhound 

 or beagle, or a bloodhound or harrier can 

 be judged in the same manner. Anyhow, 

 the man who tries to do so will come a 

 howler. You might as well try to judge 

 a hackney as if he were a thoroughbred, 

 or a shorthorn as a Jersey. 



Pride of place in any chapter devoted to 

 workers must of necessity be given to the 

 foxhound, who deserves all the flattering 

 things that have been said about him. The 

 glories of the chase have been sung times 

 without number, not by our most renowned 

 bards perhaps, for it is not easy to imagine 

 a hunting Wordsworth or Milton, although 

 there is every reason to believe that Shake- 



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